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Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) is a warm-season turf species prized for its drought tolerance and an ability to withstand heavy traffic well. Properly preparing a site for the zoysia grass generally includes applying a starter fertilizer, which is formulated with high phosphorus to encourage root growth.

Timing Starter Fertilizer Application

Starter fertilizer is worked into the soil in a site before planting and generally is one of several site-preparation tasks. First remove all debris and weeds, break up clods of soil, roughly grade the lawn area and then work in any amendments and the starter fertilizer. Broadcast the starter fertilizer over across the soil surface and incorporate it into the top 2 to 4 inches of soil. Following fertilizer incorporation, install any irrigation system, lightly and repeatedly irrigate the site, if possible and perform any final grading. Spread zoysia grass sprigs or plant plugs in late spring or early summer, if possible, for rapid establishment. Zoysia grass sod will also generally experience fastest establishment at this time, but can be successfully installed at any time as long as weather is not extremely hot or cold.

Starter Fertilizer Formula

Having the site's soil tested before introducing the zoysia grass sod, sprigs or plugs will help to guide the fertilizer formula selected and the application rate. Like other complete fertilizers, most starter fertilizers contain at least nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The three numbers on a fertilizer label indicate the respective percentages of these elements. As a general rule, apply at least one pound of phosphorus and no more than one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Acceptable starter fertilizers could have a 5-10-5 or 5-20-10 formula. With these fertilizer formulas, an appropriate application rate is 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

Post-Planting Care

About six weeks after laying sod, planting plugs or spreading out zoysia grass sprigs, you can first apply a balanced or nitrogen-heavy fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Other new-lawn requirements include frequent and light irrigation, limiting traffic on the lawn and carefully mowing the zoysia grass when it is dry, well-rooted and at least 1 1/2 inches tall so that no more than a third of the zoysia grass height is removed.

Fertilizing Established Zoysia Grass

Regular, though not excessive, fertilizer applications will help to encourage zoysia grass vigor and prevent weed invasions without forcing excessive thatch accumulation. In general, zoysia grass is fertilized about four times, or approximately every six weeks, from April through October with 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen applied per 1,000 square feet during each application.